LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 36 - Gathering (2)
18. Gathering (2)
“And next to Brusin?”
“It seems to be Briol.”
“Briol? Puhaha, the Nation of Knights? Isn’t it just a fake reputation given because the king wields a sword well? Why does a king wield a sword well in the first place? Does that make sense? Shouldn’t a king manage the country well instead of wielding a sword? Is it a place where butchers live?”
Yuri carefully documented every word he said.
Brusin, stinking bumpkins. Fish caught in a net.
Briol is a country where butchers live.
Holy Kingdom, a gang of hypocrites earning money by selling to god.
Yoham, a pseudo-nation where a bandit leader acts like a king with a few mountain bases.
Klein, fell from wealth to poverty after failing in the perfume business.
And so on…
From beginning to end, he criticized every kingdom one by one.
His knack for backbiting was so exceptional that even Yuri, skilled in slander and machination, was astounded.
The soldiers, seemingly unwilling to get involved further, lowered their flags and quietly left.
The lieutenant nodded in agreement.
“Indeed.”
But that was not the end.
His tongue ran rampant like a bull with its tail on fire. In rhetoric, he was fearless.
“And the Empire? They’re just the same.”
“S-sir…”
“What, fighting the orcs? It’s ridiculous. I don’t understand why the countries suddenly gathered. They call it an empire, but it’s just like a neighborhood bully. In my view, it’s probably because the emperor went senile, and the crown prince…”
Yuri diligently documented the part about the Empire, as the empire boasted itself as a suzerain state.
The lieutenant standing beside him seemed to let it in one ear and out the other as if it was a usual occurrence.
As the man finished his long monologue and paused to catch his breath, Yuri decided it was time to make his presence known.
“Oops, my hand slipped.”
With a loud crack, the pencil Yuri was holding broke in half.
The man and the lieutenant turned around in surprise.
“Oh my, oh dear. My precious pencil…”
Saying so, Yuri folded the paper neatly and tucked it into his chest.
His actions indicated what he had been up to until now.
“Who, who are you?”
The man approached with wide eyes.
“Which side are you with? Sneaking around like a rat! What side are you with to eavesdrop on someone else’s words and document them…”
Looking at Yuri’s shabby appearance, the man interrogated him immediately. But the lieutenant behind him examined Yuri hesitantly, trying to persuade the man.
“Sir, please calm down…”
“Calm down, what calm down? Rats like these need to be kept silent with a beating.”
His mindset was as reckless as his words.
The man pushed the lieutenant away.
“Kneel this rat.”
“Sir. Since his identity is still unclear, let’s…”
“Can’t you see at a glance?”
Yuri reassessed himself.
Why did most people he met for the first time think he was just a simple soldier?
Even if it was because of his practical attire, the perception was excessive.
Knights were fighting on the front lines like him who dressed similarly, plus, didn’t his appearance exude an air of nobility?
“Look at this brat standing with one leg, observe that rude expression. He looks exactly like a commoner rolling around in the dirt. He lacks nobility, lacks nobility.”
Yuri came to an understanding. It seemed to be a habit from his time as a mercenary.
“Sir. For now…”
“You have no objections, right? Just take the hit first.”
He swung his fist without warning.
As he watched the clean movement aimed at his face, Yuri understood why his words and actions were so arrogant.
Considering his age, it was a talent to be recognized.
Surely those who came to fight the orcs would not possess insignificant skills.
However, the world had more geniuses than one might think.
Yuri swiftly snatched the fist and flipped it back at him.
The man, assuming his opponent was a mere soldier, had let his guard down and ended up sprawled on the ground.
“Huh?”
Yuri wiggled a finger left and right.
“Weak.”
“This… this…”
“What’s your name?”
“How can a soldier…”
“I am Yuri Briol, the Third Prince of Briol and commander of the Briol army.”
“Huh?”
Blood drained from the man’s face.
Being called “Sir” by the lieutenant, his status was lower than Yuri’s.
Yuri walked up to the man and looked down at him.
“What is your name, that dared to raise a fist against me?”
“I, I am…”
With a gentle nudge on his forehead using a finger, the man shrunk back awkwardly. Yuri drew out the paper and waved it.
“Speak quickly.”
“Ah…”
His face twisted. It dawned on him that his vulnerability had been exposed.
“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of boldly trying to snatch it away from me?”
“It’s not that…”
“Think carefully. As you said, our Briol is a country ruled by a butcher-like king.”
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“There are so many misunderstandings.”
Yuri unfolded the paper and read aloud.
“Brusin are stinking bumpkins, the Holy Kingdom is a tradesman of hypocrisy…”
“It really is a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean it. It’s just…”
The lieutenant quickly intervened, practically kneeling before Yuri.
“Your Highness. It’s truly a misunderstanding. The master was just venting his stress about the war with words he didn’t mean. Please put away that paper. I beg of you.”
And he banged his head on the ground. A loyal lieutenant indeed.
The man concurred.
“Yes, that’s true.”
“No.”
Yuri knitted his brows.
“Who said anything? So, who are you?”
“I am…”
The lieutenant tapped the man’s calf, urging him to just speak.
The man closed his eyes tightly and spoke.
“Affiliated with the Liberta Allied Forces, I am Sven Gain.”
“Your title?”
“I am the eldest son of Count Abra.”
“Son of a Count.”
Yuri jotted down his name with the broken pencil.
Sven was horrified.
“What are you doing!”
“Capturing a weakness.”
“Didn’t you say you’d forgive…”
“When did I say that?”
“Ugh…”
A brief conflict flashed across the man’s face.
Yuri immediately kicked Sven in the stomach.
“Gah!”
“Aren’t you managing your murderous intent?”
Yuri looked down at the fallen Sven.
“Did you just consider cutting my throat?”
“Never…”
“Go ahead.”
Yuri conjured the Mana Method. The mana of Heart and Soul Slash permeated the surroundings.
The lieutenant lowered his head.
It seemed they realized they stood no chance against him even if they attacked together.
“Sven.”
“Yes…”
“In life, one might privately utter various slanders, wouldn’t you agree?”
“Yes, indeed…”
“Understand.”
Yuri glanced around. There were no signs of presence. Only the three of them were there.
Yuri suddenly extended his hand.
“Let’s shake on it.”
Sven looked bewildered at Yuri before eventually grasping his hand. The sensation of clammy sweat was felt.
Yuri swiftly released his hand and wiped it on his clothes.
“Do you know about being secret friends?”
“What?”
“We are now secret friends.”
Yuri tapped his chest where the paper was tucked.
“It means let’s help each other. Share information, and warn each other when there’s danger. It’s about mutual support.”
“Yes…”
“Don’t take it too harshly. This paper might be seen as a weakness, but viewed differently, isn’t it a token of secret friendship?”
“If it’s a token, it should be exchanged…”
“Not thinking straight.”
Yuri leaned in closer.
“Should I just consider it as a captured weakness?”
“No, I…”
“What could I possibly gain from you? A lad with nothing much…”
“…”
“All I wish is for the Allied Forces to fulfill their purpose and disband peacefully. Isn’t that what you wish too? So let’s help each other live.”
Yuri patted his shoulder.
“Sven.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Get going.”
Sven slumped down and turned away with the lieutenant.
Yuri clicked his tongue as he watched their retreating figures.
Although he happened to catch Sven in the act and grabbed a weakness, whether Sven would be of any help was uncertain.
Still, with the lieutenant trailing him, the Gain family couldn’t be of small influence.
Yuri murmured.
“One never knows with people.”
He had learned through his past life that the affairs of people were unpredictable. An unforeseen person could extend help, while someone anticipated might betray trust.
Thus, it was essential to have various countermeasures in place.
Yuri counted the number of flags.
All the nations had arrived. The real war was about to begin.
In his past life, Okuah crushed the Allied Forces and claimed a position among the Ten Strongest.
This time, it would not happen that way.
Yuri looked down at his shadow.
“Asana.”
He summoned his faithful retainer.
“Yes.”
A voice came from behind him.
Turning around, Asana was standing there.
He knew she was guarding nearby, but didn’t expect her to be so close.
But Yuri did not mind.
It wasn’t embarrassing not to detect the last descendant of the Assassin Guild.
“Since when have you been there?”
“From a moment ago.”
“Your skills seem to have improved.”
“Indeed. My skills work better in the plains. Probably because it’s quiet.”
“Is that so?”
Yuri tilted his head in curiosity.
“Anyway, we finally made it to Balshad.”
“His traces were found here.”
Yuri had tasked Asana with seeking out the “Stranger”.
In the plains, there were only two cities—Gid, and Balshad—so it wasn’t odd for him to have passed through both.
“Could he be in Balshad?”
“I do not know. Quite a few people have seen him, so we’ll likely find him soon. Or maybe…”
Asana glanced around.
It was silent.
“He might be waiting for me somewhere.”
“I heard he isn’t violent, but still, be careful.”
“The one who needs to be careful is you, Your Highness.”
“Right, I’ll be.”
The Stranger, one of the continent’s Ten Strongest, was an alien presence among them.
He hailed from the east beyond the grasslands.
The reason he drifted into the western continent was unknown, but one day he appeared and slayed Zigman the Wanderer, the previous one of the Ten Strongest, claiming the title himself.
Yuri had only one reason to seek him.
“I need to find him before facing Okuah.”
He was the one who handed over the position of the Ten Strongest to Okuah.
At the end of the orc conquest, he appeared in the plains and clashed with Okuah. According to witnesses, it was said to have ended in a draw after a bloody battle.
Barely managing to sustain himself, he ambushed Okuah several times afterward, but eventually, he was brutally killed.
Whatever story there may have been, the Stranger was hostile to Okuah.
The enemy of my enemy is my ally.
To ensure that fate did not follow the past course, Yuri intended to find and persuade him first.
“Make haste.”
“Yes.”
Asana nodded. Finding him as soon as possible was also for Yuri’s safety.
“And I saw the Iraine Trading Company. The caravan was continuously moving goods.”
“Really? They’re doing well. Considering I taught them everything, they had better. If anything’s needed, name me and take it.”
“We have enough funds.”
Wars can present opportunities for some to make money. Yuri made sure Iraine did not miss this opportunity by sharing information.
Everything was proceeding according to the plan.
Yuri said,
“If there are any peculiarities, let me know.”
“Understood.”
Asana nodded. Her form gradually became vague.
Yuri shook his head. His sight did not focus. He closed his eyes tight and opened them.
There was no one.
Yuri chuckled. How frightening it would be if an assassin like her targeted one’s throat.
But even someone like Asana must avoid truly strong opponents.
“Still far to go.”
In his past life, the Allied Forces were thwarted, and the former Ten Strongest ‘Stranger’ was killed.
The monster Okuah had made it so.
Yet, even such an Okuah dared not oppose the Emperor.
Countless nations and numerous formidable figures kneeled before the Empire’s domination.
The Allied Forces were just a prelude.
There was a long road ahead.
“There’s no time, no time…”
Yuri clenched his gauntlet.
There was no leisure to stand idly.
Though this was a new life, there was still much he lacked.
He returned immediately to his quarters.
All the troops were engrossed in training as per his orders. It was a scene entirely different from other nations, waiting idly inside the fortress.
“Why are they bustling about?”
“Got a poor commander.”
“They’re doing unnecessary things…”
The soldiers from other nations laughed as they watched.
Yuri passed them by and entered the quarters. The knights in training looked at him.
Among the onlookers, Yuri spotted a towering figure staring in envy.
He grinned and called out to him.
“Sir Jose.”
“Yes?”
“Care to join me?”
His eyes widened at first, but then he beamed brightly.
“Yes.”